Eastern Bays Shared Path

Investigating a new shared path for walking and cycling along Marine Drive, Eastern Bays.

What’s this project about?

The completion of an Eastern Bays Shared Path has been included in past Hutt City Council strategies. Its a key project in providing a safe and integrated network for commuting and recreational purposes under the current Walk and Cycle the Hutt 2014 – 2019 strategy (PDF 2.3MB).

The project is considered part of the Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Pōneke. This is a walking and cycling route around Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington harbour) from Fitzroy Bay in the east to Sinclair Head in the west.

Previous shared path designs were dependant on the replacement of almost all of the existing seawalls with a modern fit for purpose structure. This would be more effective at reflecting wave energy, thus reducing potential overtopping during storm events. This design allowed for the provision of a shared path on top of the structure.

Recent seawall structural assessments have indicated that complete replacements aren't economically justified, as many sections still have over 20 years' residual life. Some sections, however, are considered to have less than 5 years' life and will be replaced by a modern fit for purpose structure.

This project is all about developing options for a shared path connection that isn't dependent on the complete continuous replacement of the existing seawalls. This project will also ensure potential solutions are affordable.

The project focuses on improving the safety for pedestrians and cyclists on Marine Drive between:

Point Howard and the northern end of Days Bay

The southern end of Days Bay (Windy Point) to Eastbourne (Muritai Road / Marine Parade intersection)

Days Bay is not in scope for this project. It t currently provides a lower speed limit, some safe facilities for pedestrians and increased widths for on-road cyclists.

Note: arrows indicate approximate length and area of study

How the community benefits from the Shared Path

The Shared Path will provide:

A safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists on a high speed, busy road

Improved sight distance for road users

A reduction of accidents and injuries

Attractive facilities for new users

Improved connectivity between Eastern Bays and the wider Hutt Valley

Increased choice of different ways to travel

An improved access to existing trails and walkways.

Depending on the options selected and design details, its possible that the shared path may offer increased sea defence by redirecting waves and debris away from the shared path.

Where are we at?

We've been developing the investigation and design further, using technical information alongside community feedback. A variety of specialists are giving us technical advice: including specialists in ecology, landscape, resource planning, coastal processes and urban design.

Simulated shared path views

Indicative Business Case with recommended concept options to develop further

December 2016

Detailed Business Case (preliminary design of 1-2 options)

May - August 2017

Further community engagement

August 2017

Agreed Preferred Option

September 2017

Preliminary design of Preferred Option

Late 2017

Environmental Assessments

Mid 2018

Finalise Design

September 2018

Lodge Resource Consent Application

Late 2018

Consents approved

Early 2019

Construction start

2019

*Timeline is subject to change

Community engagement

Community engagement started early in the project during 2015.

We held a series of meetings during August 2017 to engage with the community and got their feedback on the options. Initially we held individual bay meetings where discussions took place around issues specific to the respective bay communities. This culminated in an Open Day for everyone interested in the options. Through this process we also sought written feedback via online questionnaires covering the proposed shared path options.

The project team developed a number of designs for the two path width options, including options to treat the more sensitive areas around the beaches. Community feedback was incorporated into the technical information and informed the preferred option. There have been ongoing discussions with community groups and landowners on various aspects of the design.

Environmental Assessments

A series of environmental assessments are being undertaken to assess what effects the proposed shared path has on the environment. These assessments look at ecology, vegetation, avifauna, coastal processes, landscape and visual amenities, urban design and recreational amenities. These assessments are based on data, some of which is obtained through fieldwork. At times, you may observe teams of technical specialists out on the beaches or in the foreshore recording information of relevance to the project.

The preliminary design supported by technical reports will be taken forward into the consenting stage. Consents are programmed to be lodged at the end of the year.

Penguin Survey

A penguin survey is an example of the data that is required to assess the effects of the shared path on avifauna. In October 2017, Conservation Dog Handler Alastair Judkins and his Penguin Detection Dog Mena conducted a little blue penguin survey along the eastern bays of the Wellington harbour. This was completed in collaboration with the Lower Hutt City Council and the Eastern Bays Penguin Group.

October was chosen as it coincided with the expected breeding season of the penguins which would give a higher likelihood of site occupation. The aim of this survey was to locate sites that were being utilised by penguins, either for breeding or roosting.There were two facets to the search:

The coastal strip from Burdens gate in the South, to the Estuary Bridge on Waione Street to the North. Including the breakwaters of the Seaview marina.

Private properties that had given permission for the handler and dog to search their properties for the presence of penguin activity and council owned reserves.

Data was collected on all the sites which included: date, time, GPS coordinates, dog detection type, site description and whether adult penguins, chicks or eggs were sighted. The sites were marked with orange coded flag tape that had correlated with the data recorded on the data sheet.

The survey commenced on the 14th of October 2017 and finished on the 19th of October for a total of 6 days. During the survey period, Alastair and Mena identified 78 sites that were deemed to be utilised by little blue penguins. 74 were located along the coastal strip and seaward side of the road and 4 were located on the landward side of the road.

26 adult penguins were sighted, 13 chicks and 13 eggs. Some sites may have had adults, chicks and eggs present but the actual nest site was hidden/unable to be accessed. Some sites had adults sighted but it was not possible to see if there were any chicks/eggs present as the nest site was not accessible.

Some properties along the landward side on the road were deemed to be unsafe for the dog to operate in due to the amount of broken glass sighted. This included council owned properties. Not all the private properties were searched as some were deemed to be inaccessible to penguins due to either the terrain or boundary fences which would have excluded penguins.